I know you sometimes feel ordinary but you’re not.
You are one of a kind ~ a unique and beautiful blend of all God wants you to be.
You are God’s prized possession, a valued treasure of great worth.
You may feel invisible…like you are just one of millions of others.
But God sees you.
And when God sees you, He sees someone He loves.
In Isaiah 43:4, God says, “You are precious and honored in my sight …. and I love you.”
He sees someone He knows.
David said in Psalm 139:1, “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.” God knows you, too.
Since God knows you, has a purpose for you and loves you just the way He made you, I have no doubt He wants you to feel the same way.
He’ll do whatever it takes to help you get to a place of accepting and embracing your His heart for you so you can become the woman HE created you to be!
Here is the song I feel like God chose for you this week. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch, listen and let Him tell you just how beautiful you are! {If you are reading this via email, click here to watch it since it’s not viewable thru email.}
You really are…
Beautiful
Loved
Cherished
Chosen
Treasured
Sacred
You are His!
May God’s sweet affirmations replace all those comparisons. As you identify, understand and embrace who HE created you to be, I’m praying that, like the psalmist, you’re learning to say with confidence, “Lord, You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb, I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Ps. 139:13-14)
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To celebrate God’s heart for you — my friends at DaySpring have graciously given me 5 sets of “God’s Heart For You” giveaways to share with 5 of you!! {{so excited!!}}
To enter the “God’s Heart for You” GiveAway share your answer to one or more of the questions at the end of the chapter 8. OR if you haven’t read that far yet, share your thoughts about today’s music video or blog post. Can’t want to hear from your heart :-).
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Praying for you, My Online Sisters! So blessed to be going on this Confident Heart journey with ya’ll!
Chapter 8…I think I could spend 3 weeks or more on just this chapter! I have read and read this chapter. (Haven’t done the end of chapter questions yet.) I am still trying to unwrap my spiritual gifts as well as discover my abilities. Still trying to discover the God-Given desires of my heart… Identifying my personality traits has been a challenge too! I can’t say that I have ever done this much soul-searching on myself before.
Gotta love Mercy Me! Thanks for posting “Beautiful”…What an awesome reminder it is that we ARE beautiful, loved, cherished, chosen, treasured, sacred, and are His!!!!!!!
This is the second time I am reading your book and I love Chapter 8 because it helps me to remember that God does have a plan for my life. Right now I am struggling with the decision to continue being my daughter’s troop leader with Girl Scouts. It’s a tough job and pretty much I’ve been on my own all year. My husband desperately wants me to relinquish my duties, but I just am not sure. So I prayed for God to show me His will regarding this part of my life and He worked it all out so now I have an awesome co-leader to help me. Praise God for answered prayers. Keep seeking God ladies. He’s always faithful!!!
LIke many have said here, I’m running a bit behind on Chapter 8 myself. I have finished reading it, but haven’t gotten the end of chapter questions answered yet. I did highlight the spiritual gifts section, and it is such a good reminder that God gives us each gifts he has in mind for us to use for HIS purposes.
Love the video too. I don’t comment on the blog as often as most, but I am enjoying your book Renee, and this study. Trying to get caught up……maybe by the end of the book! lol
I am running a bit behind in the study, but did just scan Chapter 8. I’m so looking forward to absorbing the discussion on spiritual gifts. We are preparing to start an American Heritage Girls troop for our daughters and hopefully you’ll have some inspiring words as we try to match our talents and gifts to the mission at hand. Thanks so much!
I had a rough night with my kids and felt like a failure. I went to turn on the tv and God prompted me to go to your blog instead. I cried through the videos but feel hope and know in my head I am loved. That knowledge is slowly working to my heart. Thank you
….and if the truly saw your heart they’d see too much.
This line in the song really made me think. If people truly saw what is in our hearts could they even handle it? What a relief that we know God can!!!!
Thank you Renee for sharing that great video! I really liked it because I have been struggling with questions of self-worth and wondering how He sees me because I don’t really see myself as beautiful. I’ve never been in a relationship, so sometimes I think, what is wrong with me, I’m not pretty, not good enough..etc. I especially liked the pictures of Jesus holding children and the hands holding the globe.
Love the song, love the posts, love the comments, love the word of the week!! Regarding question5, at 36 years old, not fulfilling my God given purpose has prevented me from not only experiencing the blessing that comes from serving a loving God, but has also prevented those around me from witnessing and or experiencing that same blessing. They miss out on seeing the Christ in me. What a shame. What an important chapter this is. Thank you Renee for your faithfulness and candor!
I love the video ans also have learned alot from your book… The work Masterpiece for this week rally opened my eyes. I had just recently went on an Emmaus walk…which was amazing, but when I went to my church service this morning I was even more amazed at Gods work in my life.. Our Pastors opening statement was…”You are Gods Masterpiece” I was overwhelmed how the Holy Spirit knows when he needs to be present.
God Bless,
Mary
I learned something this week. Its been a struggle for quite awhile now, this battle of trying to understand how God treasures me and thinks that I am special, beautiful, etc. It’s been quite the spiritual battle, thinking that other christians are better or that God loves them more and so on.
This week I went on a cruise and my struggle with anxiety reared its ugly head. I have pretty bad travel anxiety, aka attacks from satan. But I learned something through this struggle while traveling to Miami. I don’t have control. I don’t need a security blanket in any form. I have the Lord and He is watching over me and protecting me every step of the way. The realization that God who truly and desperately loves me this way really hit me this week. To show me this and to teach me that I am so protected, when theres no one or nothing else, only comes from Him. And He would do this because He loves me and values me as His child, no matter what. Wow, what a realization! I truly believe that He has been opening my heart to this through this Bible study and it has helped me so much!
Isn’t it wonderful to find that freedom! God allows everything in our life for a reason, strengths and weakness. If the weakness or the hurts were not there, we would not grow into who he wants us to be. Everything has its reason and its season. Your sister in Christ, Linda
Yes, I am beautiful! I finished reading the chapter and I read the first question……I believe I have really quit comparing myself to everyone else. Oh, I still have those moments that my mind wants to fall down in the pit but I have also found at that moment I can tell myself that I am just the way God wants me to be. He loves me just the way I am and he can’t even begin to make changes in me until I surrender my all to Him and let Him do His work in me. I am so thankful and it feels so good to just be content and know that God will complete me. I so want to serve Him and I just realized I can’t really be serving Him as He would want to use me when I am trying to work everything out through me instead of letting Him work in me. Gosh, no wonder we get so tired trying to work it all out ourselves so now I am resting and waiting in and on Him.
Why is it so hard to believe that about myself sometimes, a lot of times?!?!
I’ve heard that song many times before but watching that video and really listening to what is really saids really touched my heart. Its the kind of reminder that I need everyday. BEAUTIFUL….
“You are beautiful” – these are 3 words I pray my children never forget! That they are made for so much more – that they are truly God’s treasures!! Thank You!! I love hearing my kids sing along to this song and pray it never leaves their hearts!
Couldn’t agree more!
You are made for so much more than all of this…. you are beautiful! I love that line.
I AM NOT CAUGHT UP WITH MY READING. WHEN THE TORNADOE WENT THRU SOUTHERN IN. OUR CHUCH OPENED OUR DOORS. I HAVE BEEN AT CHURCH FOR THE LAST WEEK UNTIL TODAY HUBBY HAS AN CASE OF FLU SO STAYED HOME TO TAKE CARE OF HIM.
I LOVED THE SONG. I PRAISE GOD I DON’T FEEL BAD ABOUT MYSELF NOW. BUT FOR MANY YEARS I DIDN’T FEEL BEAUTIFUL. ANYTHING BUT. BUT GOD HAS DONE SUCH A GREAT WORK IN MY LIFE AT 67 YEARS YOUNG I FEEL GOOD ABOUT MY SELF. I WILL FINISH THE BIBLE STUDY. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS KAY
This is Answers for Questions 4-5 in chapter 8.I Believe my Abilities are in taking care of Children and the Elderly.I helped Raised four Grandbabies and also at one time was a Activity Cordinator for an adult daycare center.I just always Pray God never let me be A Slothful Servant.As the one that is talked about in The parable of the Talents.God gave each Servant a talentThe first one 5 went to work at once and doubled his to 10;Second one doubled his.But the trird one was given one talent with the Expectation he managd it well,But he was not capable of doubling his as the two before him.He was afraid and hid his and the accused his Master of beoing a hard man to work for.The Master called him a wicked slouthful servant.And his was given to the first Servant that had 10.God wants us Ladies to use those abilities we have been given and he will multiply them if we use them wisely.We are to Glorify Him in all we do.I Long to hear these Words as was told to the first Servant.Well done good and Faithful Servant.Ladies your treasures are stored in Heaven and it depends on what you been given by God if you will recieve them.I Pray Blessings on each and everyone of you.And I am Thankful and Bless to be a part of this eye opening Experience.
This si Answers for QUESTIONS 6-7 In Chapter 8 Spiritual Gifts:Every Christian is given Spiritual gifts.Each gift is for the Edification of the Body of Christ.The moment we recieve Salvation others may be given when we get stonger in our walk with Christ.We have all been called to Witness and We have been called to be God’s Disciples.At least one of the Spiritual gifts are given to help build up others Faith in the Church.And If God gives you one or more of these Spiritual Gifts He will equip you in how to use them.[1 CORINTHIANS 12 ]Word of Wisdom through the Spirit.Word of knowledge through the same Spirit.Faith even the Faith of a Mustard seed shows our Faith. Gits of Healing.Working of Miracles Prophecy Discerning of Spirits diffrent kind of tongues Interpetation of tongues one and the same Spirit.God gives to each one Individually as He wills.Tongues are also known as Heavenly Language.We all have one body with many members we all have different gifts according to the grace given to us.God requires us to talk to him in the Holy Spirit if weve been given this gift when we Pray.There are Apostles,Prophets,Evangelist,Pastors which is the Shephered over the Body of Believers.Teachers.Service Ministry,Exhortation ability to motivate.Giving Leadership.Other God’s Messengers will come to us and say You have been called to be a Prayer Warrior.A Childrens church Teacher or they may say Are Spirits have a connection these have happen to me through God sending His Messengers to me I knew then that it was from God because I felt the Holy Spirit all over me.I even was told by a Mighty Warrior of Christ that I am Covered.My Husband will join me on my pew one day many other things God Confirmed to me.And He saids you will know them by the fruit they beare.Praise God for His Spiritual Gifts they help us to help others and help build His Kingdom.
Question #1 talks about breaking the comparison trap. I found two statements in the chapter that really helped me accept who God created me to be.
You do things the way you do because it is part of your unique God-shaped purpose.
God deliberately gave you the personality he wanted you to have so you can impact certain people through your life.
It is freeing to know these things because I can accept the parts of me that I wish to change . . . who I am is a part of God’s plan. Knowing this truth allows me to accept all of who I am.
#1 I tend to compare myself to others in my marriage and in my being a mom.
God never intended for us to compete with each other; He wants us to complete one another.
When we compare we are measuring our insides with someone elses outsides.the way to brake free from the comparison trap is to embrace the reason I am who I am I am the person God chose me to be.
Am I doing what God may be calling someone else to do
I am God’s MASTERPIECE!!
#2 My personality types are betwwen two of the four: Sanguine and Melancholy these two stood out to me the most although the others have parts that can also apply. I feel I know why this is as well so I can do the works of God for many types of people and to understand many type of situations people tend to go through. It is a special gift from God to be able to relate to so many about so much